'Natural' TV star Gwyneth Paltrow

The Hollywood actress wanted to show the public her true character and so decided to team up with US chef Mario Batali on 'Spain... On the Road Again'.

He said: "I'm sure the reason she did it was because people thought she was kind of uptight. But she's not. She's natural. She's accessible - and it gave her a chance to show that."

The pair, who have been friends for 10 years, met at Batali's New York restaurant Babbo.

Last year, Gwyneth and Mario were filmed as they embarked on a gastronomic tour of Spain.

While some thought it a strange choice to pick Gwyneth - who doesn't eat meat - to front a programme about Spanish food, Batali insists she was a great addition to the show.

He continued: "Gwyneth is cool. She's got a spiritual component that isn't too hokey. She's sexy, she's funny. And she loves food. She really understands it. I had high expectations of her and she exceeded them. She's curious. She wanted to know about this stuff. She eats."

Paltrow lives in London with husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, and their children Apple, four, and Moses, two.